NOTE: I do not update these reports after they are posted so some of the links may not work after a while. If you find a broken link check the title in the alphabetical lists of alternative or general reviews at the end of this report.

FRIDAY FAN FICTION REPORT - 5/7/99
[Previous report was for 5/5/99]

Hi all,

There's a new article on the popularity of Xena fan fiction in the May 6, 1999 issue of a Toronto publication called XTRA. Written by Gail J. Cohen and featuring some familiar names from the Xenaverse, the article is called LUSCIOUS LUCY GETS NAKED and can be found at http://www.xtra.ca/site/toronto2/arch/body176.php

Verrath's fanfic and fanfic art are now available at her own site VERRATH'S BOOK OF TALES. Verrath is also making available German translations of some of her own stories in addition to T. Novan's. Stop by at http://members.xoom.com/Verrath/. Make SURE to check out XANDRA'S DEN :)

WHOOSH's XENA WARRIOR PALACE is continuing its BARD CHAT and ARTIST CHAT series. For the month of May they have these talented Xenites scheduled:

ARTIST CHAT: Sunday, May 9, 8pm EST / 5pm PST - JL Peterson, also known as Jeri - webmaster extraordinaire of THE XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS FANTASY ART GALLERY at and a talented artist in her own right. You can check out her site at: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Coffeehouse/2147/index.html

The XENA WARRIOR PALACE does require special software in order to participate in the chats and registration is free so stop by ahead of time at http://whoosh.org/palace/index.html

GENERAL FICTION

THE HEART OF A LEOPARDby Verrath
Chapter 4 is now being posted. With the growing popularity of uber fanfic, Xenite bards have increasingly been trying to incorporate the Xena myth into stories set in other places and times. The best uber tales manage to give an original spin to that familiar story of the warrior while staying true to the realities of the different uber worlds they're set in. Verrath latest is a TERRIFIC example of how a fresh approach can completely captivate the imagination by taking elements of that more familiar story and cleverly blending them into a VERY different world. HEART OF A LEOPARD is the story of an unlikely friendship set amidst the harsh beauty and unforgiving cruelty of the wild jungle. Men have come there intent on hunting for leopards. Raised among those men since she was a cub, Ginelle is innocent in the ways of the jungle but she senses that they plan on using her as bait to draw in the male leopards nearby and it's a plan she does not want to be a part of. Unbeknownst to the hunters, they are themselves being hunted by a dark, prowling, living nightmare whose hatred of man is perhaps second only to her hatred for the pampered slave cats they keep. Blood will soon coat the jungle floor as two lives are inexplicably changed and to ancient souls stir in recognition. In this latest chapter Ginelle gets a lesson in the law of the jungle from an unlikely source. Verrath does a fantastic job here of imbuing the uber characters with familiar characteristics while VERY cleverly drawing them as believable components of the uber world they live in. Sweet, suspenseful, colorful, funny and emotional this one is gonna have us anxiously waiting for those updates in the weeks ahead. Great work. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! [unfinished] - 6 pgs.http://verrath.de/xandra/index.htm

ALTERNATIVE FICTION

DREAMS LOST AND FOUNDby Jim Kuntz
This talented writer returns with a deeply emotional, heartwarming tale of love and family, regrets and lost dreams that has the Lion of Amphipolis and her bard traveling to Poteidaia to visit with Gabrielle's family. Ever observant, Xena notices immediately the distance between Gabrielle and her father. It's a situation she senses hurts her partner deeply and when something hurts Gabrielle, it concerns the Warrior Princess so with the determination that once turned a village girl into the feared Destroyer of Nations, she attacks the problem head on, stripping away walls of silence a lifetime in the making and revealing the misplaced bitterness a taciturn old man has been clinging to instead of his family for so long. Jim's characterizations are all outstanding but particularly noteworthy is his treatment of the Warrior Princess. His Xena has that fascinating mixture of tenderness, raw power, danger and singleminded resolve that is at the heart of what has made this character so appealing for so many. The relationship between warrior and bard is fun and sexy, caring and fiercely committed. Touching too is Jim's depiction of Herodutus whose story holds a lesson for us all. Beautiful tale folks. A MUST READ! VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 30 pgs.http://ausxip.com/fanfiction/d/dreamslost.html

TIREDby Verrath
I have no idea why I'm putting this story in the alt. category and I want no e-mail asking me about it so be warned ;-) It just WANTED to go in this section. It's a story about a Beamer, a Roadster, puddles of...er...hot oil and love on the road :) Featuring guest appearances from Verrath's other popular fanfic creations - Gabby from the TELL ME SERIES and a certain feline pair from THE HEART OF A LEOPARD this is probably a bit extreme even for the uber genre but just TOO cute for words :) DO NOT MISS! - 3 pgs.http://verrath.de/other/tired.htm

DRIVENby Docgirl
This bard's first fanfic effort gets off to a solid start capturing the frenetic energy and drama of a big city hospital ER as surgery resident Joanna Cameron struggles to save a shooting victim. Looking on Detective Lauren Burke finds herself quite impressed with the young doctor - a reaction which Joanna herself shares later when she's introduced to the striking detective. Well written and very atmospheric, this one shows terrific potential. [unfinished] - 9 pgs.http://members.tripod.com/~Trag_88/fanfic/nbards/docgirl/driven.html

For those of you reading this post who are not familiar with the term alternative (alt.), it refers to ADULT stories that add a romantic element to the relationship between Xena and Gabrielle, depicting them as more than just friends.